Thorbjorn Olesen.
Remember the name. The 22-year-old from Copenhagen sizzled like a nice slice of Danish bacon in the Mediterranen sun yesterday as he finally made the step up on to the winner's podium by capturing the Sicilian Open at the spectacular Verdura resort.
While Scott Jamieson and Richie Ramsay produced final round flourishes to barge their way into the leading 20, and Lloyd Saltman saw his title hopes peter out with his first over-par score of the week, Olesen held his nerve and closed with a three-under 69 for a 15-under 273 and a one shot triumph over Chris Wood, who blasted a 64.
Olesen used to be known as Jacob but adopted his middle name of Thorbjorn as it's far less common. Yesterday, the former Challenge Tour champion made sure he'd stand out from the crowd. After three second-placed finishes during a sparkling rookie season among the elite in 2011, this breakthrough success has been coming.
He was made to work for it, though. With a commanding three shot lead overnight, Olesen's stronghold at the top swiftly came under attack from Wood as the Englishman took advantage of the idyllic scoring conditions to mount a robust assault.
The 24-year-old from Bristol, who was fifth in the 2008 Open as an amateur and third as a rookie pro the following year at Turnberry, had been six back at the start of play but reeled off three birdies and an eagle over his first five holes in a sparkling outward half of 30 to surge into contention.
Olesen, meanwhile, recovered from a nervy start with a trio of birdies at six, seven and nine to stave off Wood's menacing advances but, after 13 holes, the duo were sharing the lead. The pendulum would swing back in the Dane's favour, however, when Wood's approach from the rough on 17 took a hard clatter on the green and bounced off the back, resulting in his only dropped shot. Olesen, now one ahead, showed his resolve with his nearest rival in the clubhouse and safely parred in to plunder the £138,313 first prize.
He may have some way to go to emulate the 13 tour wins and two Ryder Cup appearances of his countryman and hero, Thomas Bjorn, but it's a start. Olesen marched into his press conference clutching a bottle of beer. If that other famous Danish export did golf tournaments? Unfortunately, it was a German brew. You can't have everything.
"Growing up and playing golf, Thomas was the idol for me so to come out here and win feels amazing," said Olesen. "It's nice to finally get over the line after going so close last season. I knew other players would go low in the conditions but I wasn't aware what Chris was doing until the ninth. There were a lot of nerves on those closing holes."
Ramsay was certainly one of those who went low as the Scot carved out his best score of the season, a seven-under 65, to claim his second top-20 finish in a row on 281.
A 76 on Saturday had scuppered any title ambitions, but the 28-year-old rediscovered the golfing cockiness that can often be a hallmark of his play as he tied for 19th with Jamieson.
"After Saturday I went to my room, went over my mental attitude and got my inward arrogance back," said Ramsay, whose last day thrust was bolstered by four birdies in a row from the sixth. "I said to myself that I should be going out, playing to my strengths and expecting to shoot a low score. I have a couple of friends who I work with on the confidence side of the game and they were telling me all the right things. It's simple stuff really about being positive but sometimes you lose sight of all that."
Jamieson also got in on the birdie bonanza with a 66 which took the edge off some of the frustration that had built up with scores of 73 and 74 in rounds two and three. "I came here with the intention of winning but Friday and Saturday ruined that, said the Cathkin Braes man.
If only Saltman could have joined in the scoring feast. The 26-year-old, four off the pace with 18 to go, had not dropped a shot since the ninth hole of his second round and had played some of his best golf in the wind-ravaged conditions that had preceded the calm final day environment. His one-over 73, which left him alongside Jamieson and Ramsay, was the only over-par score in the leading 30.
Alastair Forsyth signed off with a 70 for a three-under 285 and was quick to pinpoint what's hindering his progress. After 36 stabs with the putter during round three, it is fairly obvious. "My putting is bloody awful," was his summation.
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